2007-10-26 Manufacturing News

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Plastics Additives for Polypropylene Better Packaging Option to PET

Milliken introduces clarified polypropylene plastics as a better option than PET for glass replacement in packaging applications.

Clear polypropylene (PP) clarified with Millad* 3988i from Milliken & Company is a better choice than polyethylene terepthalate (PET) for glass replacement in packaging applications, as Unilever South Africa Foods discovered. Not only does clear polypropylene have the potential to be a less-expensive plastics packaging solution than PET, due to a combination of raw material cost and lower density, but it may also deliver excellent clarity plus the added benefits of improved moisture barrier performance and higher hot-fill temperatures. Seeking to launch a new range of seasonings, with durable lightweight plastics in new bottles for its Robertsons’ line of specialty seasonings, Unilever South Africa Foods selected clear PP featuring Millad 3988i clarifying agent. The material is manufactured during one-stage injection stretch blow molding (ISBM) to create attractive containers.

“Clear PP was an inspired choice for our beautiful new seasoning bottles, offering greater design freedom than glass and delivering excellent clarity for an unimpeded view of the contents,” said Bruce Volmink, packaging development manager, Unilever. “Also, the superior moisture barrier properties help ensure long shelf life for delicate spices and herbs. Our team depended upon Milliken specialists for their extensive technical and processing expertise in the development of this new packaging together with our supplier."

Milliken offers customers a wide range of application development assistance, including test and production machinery for process optimization and on-site packaging designers, at its Technical Service and Development Lab in Spartanburg, SC.

Advantages of Clear PP for Packaging

Before the advent of Milliken’s advanced clarifying agents, PP was frequently not a practical plastics packaging material due to its haziness. Millad 3988i clarifier, a third-generation sorbitol acetal technology, produces excellent clarity suitable for most see-through packaging applications. In addition, compared to PET, PP offers the following benefits:

• Lower density – With a specific gravity of 0.9 g/cm3, PP is less dense than PET (1.27g/cm3). By requiring less PP per unit, manufacturers can save on material costs.
• Higher temperature resistance -- PP is much more heat-resistant than PET, making hot filling easier. Above 80 C, PET typically loses its integrity, while PP can withstand temperatures of up to 130 C.
• 2x-3x better moisture barrier performance – PP has a distinct advantage over PET in vapor barrier performance. Improved protection against moisture permeation helps protect contents and extend shelf life.

Polypropylene clarified plastics with Millad 3988i can be processed using one- or two-stage injection stretch blow molding and extrusion blow molding to make plastics bottles. The material is also suitable for injection molding, sheet extrusion and thermoforming.

Upcoming Clarifying Technology

Milliken has developed a new Millad technology that significantly expands the performance of PP clarification. Millad NX8000 allows polypropylene to approach the look of high-clarity plastics like polystyrene and polycarbonate. The company is launching the new product at Kunstoffe 2007 in Dusseldorf.

About Millad 3988i Clarifying Agent
Millad* 3988i remains the standard clarifying agent for high-quality clarified PP resins. It imparts the best clarity without organoleptic problems, and continues to enable substitution of PP for polystyrene, PET packaging, polycarbonate and glass in packaging applications. In addition to clarity, its benefits for PP include ease of use, reduced cost, increased rate of crystallization during manufacturing, greater product strength and rigidity, and improved chemical resistance.

* Hyperform, Milliken, Millad, ClearTint, and ClearShield are registered trademarks of Milliken & Company, a global manufacturer and supplier of additives, colorants, cleaning agents, elastomers and specialty chemicals to a broad range of customers. The company is a market leader in additives for plastics, including Millad 3988i clarifying agent, Hyperform* nucleating agents, ClearTint* polymeric colorants, and ClearShield* UV absorbers.

Read a recent press release about - Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced a measuring mixer and extruder system, targeted towards plastics quality control needs, at the Plastics Trade Show in Dusseldorf.

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